104. The Castro Clone Wars

A Jaded Gay

Following the Stonewall Riots, San Francisco’s Castro District gained a reputation for its relative openness and soon emerged as a gay haven. During the 1970s and 1980s, a group of predominantly white, masculine-presenting gay men gained prominence for their uniform aesthetic, characterized by closely cropped hair, well-groomed mustaches, denim attire, and a rugged, hyper-masculine appearance.
In this episode, we’re exploring the origins and characteristics of this archetype, referred to as the Castro Clone, along with some famous Clones, and how this subculture both challenged and perpetuated narrow ideals of masculinity.
Related Episodes:

• Listen to Episode 19. The Queer History of Disco
• Listen to Episode 24. Gay Villages: Won't You Be My Gaybor?
• Listen to Episode 81. Are Mustaches Gay?
• Listen to Episode 82. Gay Gym Culture
• Listen to Episode 86. Turn Off Your Code-Switching
• Listen to Episode 92. Metrosexual Madness

Additional Resources:

• Castro Clone
• Castro District, San Francisco
• The History of the Castro
• Cruisin’ with the Mustache Crew
• Arthur Evans
• How the '70s “Clone” Look Paved the Way for the Queer Clothing of Today
• The Incredibly Gay History of Manly Clothes
• Afraid You're Not Butch Enough?
• The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, the Music, the Seventies in San Francisco

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Chapters

1. Snarky Opener (00:00:00)

2. Episode Introduction (00:00:28)

3. Castro Clones (00:00:54)

4. Tarot (00:01:32)

5. What is a Castro Clone? (00:02:42)

6. The History of the Castro District (00:03:15)

7. Mustaches in the ‘60s and ‘70s (00:05:46)

8. Castro Clone Etymology (00:06:38)

9. Castro Clone Characteristics (00:07:14)

10. Famous Castro Clones (00:09:04)

11. The Village People (00:10:41)

12. Criticisms of the Castro Clone Archetype (00:12:24)

13. Redefining Queer Masculinity (00:15:18)

14. Episode Closing (00:17:24)

15. Connect with A Jaded Gay (00:19:13)

16. Outtake (00:20:35)